Soil-breaking machine



July 26, 1927.

J. A. AYERS SOIL BREAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13. 1926(1557214111 yei'lzmwszv TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

July 26, 1921.

J. A. AYERS SOIL BREAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WATTORNEY 1 26 y 1927 J. A.- AYERS SOIL BREAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13.1925 a Sheets-Sheet 5 yera; INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY;

Patented July 26, 1927.

JOHN A. AYERS, or LIMA, onio.

SOIL-BREAKING MACHINE.

Application filed December 13, '1926. Seria1. No."154,5 25.

This invention relates to a machine for breaking the soil or ground, andhas for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, amachine of the class referred to for pulverizing and breaking the soilwith a view to-preparing it for planting seed thereon Without thenecessity of harrowing the ground.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a machine of the class referred to for breakingand crushing all the clods and reducing the-soil to apulverizedcondition to get the soil ready for the seed.-

Further objects of the invention are to provide a soil breaking machine,in a manner as hereinafter setforth, and which is coin giarativelysimple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact,thoroughly eificient'inits use, adjustable, readily assembled, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in icw'the invention consists ofthe novel construction, (XHIIblIIfltlOIItUltl arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein shown an embodiment of 'thein-vention, butit is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications canberesortedto whiclrfall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In *the drawings wherein like reference characters .-denotecorresponding parts ithmughout the several views Figure 1 is a top planview of a soil breaking machine in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 Figure 1.

Figure is a side elevation of one of the soil breaking elements.

" Figure 4 is a'section on line 4-4 Figure 3.

--A machine,in accordance with-this invention includes alongitudinallydisposed supporting fraine referred to generally by thereference character 1, and which consists of a U-shaped body portion'closed at its forward end, as at 3, and with'the sides of'the bodyportion 2, connectedtogether in proximity to their forward ends, by atransversely extending I-bearn 4, which is spaced fronrthe closedforward end 3 ofthe body portion The beam 4-15 secured to the bodyportion 2, by thdholdfast dev1ces'5. Depending from the forwardpartof'thebody portion 2, isafront wheel support consisting-of a shank 6and an inverteddepending fork 7, which straddles and has revol'ublyconnected therewith, at-its lower end, the front wheel 8. The bodyp'ortion2 centrally of the closed forward end thereof, has-securedtherei'vith, a rearwardly extending coupling member-9 which pivotallyconnects the shank 6 with the body portion 2. The fork 7abuts-againstthe lower faceof the coupling member 9 and the upper end ofthe shanko carries a securing nut 10.

Secured to the bean'i ft, centrally thereof, by the holdfast devices 11is a supporting bracket 12, which-hasfornied integral there withanupstanding plate 13 having its top edge toothed as at lit, toprovide-a semicircular r-ack. Pivotally connected tothe plate 13, as at15 is an upstanding lever arm 16, provided at its lower end with a rightangularly disposed and rearwardly extending arm 17, formed -in*its rearterminal portion with a'longitudinally extending slot 18. Carried bythelevcr arm 16 is a spring controlied lever and'dog niechanisnr 19which coacts withthc rack-formed by the toothed edge of tl1e-plate=13,"for the purpose of maintainingthe lever arm 16 in its adjustedposition. -The purpose of the lever arn1- 16 will be hereinafterreferred to.

Secured upon the-upper face of each side of the body portion 2, attherear thereof, is an axle bearing 20 and extending through thebearings 20 is a revoluble axle 21 having mounted on each end thereof,aside ortraction-wheel 22 of materially greaterdiaineter than the frontwheel 8. The-wheels 22- are so disposed relati-vcto the body portion 2,that they will extend a substantial distance thereabove. Loosely mountedonthe axleQl, within-the body portion 2, is a gear wheel '23 and carriedby the axle 21 isa clutching mechanisnr2l for coupling the-gear "wheel23 to the axle 1, whereby on the revolving of the latter, the gear wheelwill be carried therewith.

Adjustably mounted on the axle 21, is a longitudinally extendingsupport, referred to generally by the referencecharacter 25 andwl'iichincludes a yoke-shaped body portion formed of a pair of side bars26, 27 and an end-bar 28. The body portion 25has a closed forward endand an open rear end.

The side bars 26 and 27', of the body portion 25, are connected togetherin proximity to the end bar 28 by a transversely extending I-beam 29,which is spaced from said end bar 28, and said I beam 29 is secured tothe side bars 26 and 27 by the holdfast devices 30. Secured upon theupper faces of the side bars 26, 27 and arranged in alinement with thebearings 20, are axle bearings 31 through which extends the axle 21. Theclutching mechanism 24 is positioned in proximity to one of the axlebearings 31. The axle bearings 31 provide for the pivotally mountingofthe body portion upon the axle 21. Secured to the upper face of theend bar 28, centrally thereof, is a vertically disposed yoke-shapedmember 32, carrying in proximity to its upper end a bolt 33 whichextends through the slot 18 of the arm 17. The bolt 33 is suitablyconnected to the member 32. The bolt 33, in connection with the slot 18provides means for slidably connecting the lever arm 16 to the pivotsupport, and said lever arm 16 provides means for adjusting the positionof the support on'the axle 21, whereby the rear end ofthe pivotedsupport can be elevated or lowered for a purpose to be presentlyreferred to. V

Securedto the lower face of the side bar 26, as well as the side bar 27,is a shaft bearing 34and in which is journaled a shaft 35 which will behereinafter referred to. Mountedupon the top of the bars 26, 27 is anupstanding rearwardly extending guard 36 of arcuate form in crosssection, and which has its side edges flush with the outer side edges ofthe bars 26, 27. The guard 36 is secured to the bar-s26 and 27 by straps37 and holdfast devices 38, which engage in the guard 36 and also in theside bars 26 and 27; The bottom edge of the guard 36 is formed with anotch 39, centrally thereof, for the passage of an endless drive chain40 and the purpose of the latter will be presently referred to.

The machine includes a pair of soil breakmg elements, arranged in spacedrelation, and one is referred to generally by the reference characters40 and 41. The soil breakingelelnents are-fixed to the shaft 35 andrevolve therewith. As each of the soil breaking elements is of the sameconstruction, but one will bedescribed, as the description of one willapply to the other. Each soil breaking element comprises a hub 42 ofsubstantial length and which is keyed, as at 43 to the shaft 35. The hub42 is arranged on the shaft 35, at a point between its transverse centerand one end thereof. Formed integral with the hub 42, intermediate itsends is a flange 44 of appropriate diameter and which has secured to theinner side face thereof a series of radially disposed spring controlled,ground breaking devices and each of the latter consists of a shank 45,pivotedin proximity to its inner end, as at 46, to the flange 44. Theouter end terminal portion of the shank 45 is of curved contour, asindicated at 47 and the curvature of the said terminal portion 47 issuch, that when the furrow breaking device is in its lowered positionthe said outer terminal 47 will project rearwardly. Fixedly secured tothe inner side face of the flange 44, as at 48, is a bow shapedcontrolling spring 49 for the shank 45. The spring 49 is secured to thedisk 44,. at a point between the transverse median of the spring 49 andits inner end. The outer end of the spring 49, has its follower faceprovided with a lengthwise extending groove 50 for the reception of theshank 45, and whereby the said outer end of the spring 49 will overlapthe side faces of the shank 45, see Figure 3. The outer end of the shank45 is fixedly secured, by the holdfast devices 51, to the inner end of abreaker member 52, which inclines forwardly from its vertical centertowards each side edge thereof or in other words the breaker member 52is of V- shaped contour in sectional plan. The breaker member 52 is of aheight to depend a substantial distance from the outer end of the shank45 and furtherv projects laterally in both directions from said shank45. The holdlast devices 51, employed for securing the breaker member 52to the shank 45, are positioned in close proximity to the inner end ofthe breaker member 52. The inner end of the spring 49 abuts against theshank 45, at a point between the securing means 46 therefor and theinner end terminal of said shank. The spring 49 constitutes a cushionfor the breaker member 52 during the operation thereof and further actsas a means to maintain the shank 45 in the position shown in Figure 3.The pivot 46 for the shank 45 is clearl shown in Figure 4 and the means48 for fixedly securing the spring 49 to the disk 44 is shown in Figure4. The means 48 prevents the locking or tilting bodily of the spring 49during the operation of the breaker element.

Each side wheel 8 is provided with a spring controlled ratchet mechanism53, constructed and arranged to clutch the wheel only to the axle on theforward movement of the machine, whereby the axle is revolved, but onthe rearward movement of the machine the wheel revolves independcntly ofthe axle, as the dogs of such mechanism ride over the ratchet thereof.The endless drive chain 40 is driven from the gear 23 when the latter isclutched to the axle 21. The chain 40 extends rearwardly and engageswith the sprocket pinion 57, fixed to the shaft 35 for the purpose ofrevolving it.

The lever arm 16 provides means for tiltingthe body portion 25 for thepurpose of elevating and lowering the soil breaking elements to decreaseor increase the depth of the operation thereof with respect to the soilover which the machine travels.

Secured to the I beam 29 and end bar 28, is the base 58 of an upstandingand rearwardly inclined post, carrying a seat 60 for the operator. Theend 3, of the body portion 2, carries a hitch 61 for connecting atractor or other means for transporting the machine over the ground.

The guard 36 protects the operator from flying pieces of soil during theoperation of the machine.

lVhen the machine is transported over the ground, the soil breakingelements are operated, as they revolve with the shaft 85, and during therevolving of the soil breaking elements, the breaker members 52 willbreak up and pulverize the soil. The lever arm 16 provides means formoving the breaker elements clear of the ground and which can be held insuch position. lVhen the gear 28 is uncoupled from the shaft 21, themachine with the breaker elements elevated, can be moved off the groundwithout driving or revolving the breaker elements.

It is thought that the many advantages of a soil breaking machine, inaccordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and althoughthe preferred embodi ment of the invention is as illustrated anddescribed, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction can be had which will fall Within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a soil breaking machine a bodily revoluble ground breaking elementcomprising a hub provided intermediate its ends with an annular flange,a series of radially disposed shanks each pivot-ally connected at apointremoved from its inner end to said flange, a bow shaped springfixedly secured at a point between its transverse median and its innerend to said flange and having each of its ends bearing against a shankinwardly and outwardly with respect to the shank pivot, and a groundbreaker member secured to the outer end of each shank.

2. In a soil breaking machine in accord ance with claim 1, each of saidbreaker members inclining in opposite directions from its verticalmedian towards each side edge.

3. In a soil breaking machine in accordance with claim 1, each of saidsprings having the follower face at its outer end grooved to overlap ashank.

In a soil breaking machine in accordance with claim 1, each of saidshanks having a rearwardiy directed curved outer telminal portion towhich the breaker member is secured.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

JOHN A. AYERS.

